<p>A proper noun is a noun that is so revered by scholars of language that it is capitalized, even when not at the start of a sentence. Proper-noun majors are considered more respectable because they are harder than other majors. Examples of proper-noun majors include:</p>
<p>Engineering
English
Italian
Chinese
Math
Japanese
Spanish
Latin</p>
<p>The great thing about Engineering is that the name of the entire discipline gets capitalized, due the distinction of being included in the same phrase - i.e. Computer Engineering. English, while a proper noun, only gets capitalized by itself even if it’s part of a phrase, i.e. ‘English education’.</p>
<p>Do you think your satirical posts are clever? It’s actually almost funny considering past CC threads have actually been along the same lines, but you’re still a simpleton if you think you aren’t transparent.</p>
<p>You’re citing wikipedia? Maybe if wikipedia didn’t have liberal-arts-major-grammar-nazis preventing our language from evolving into the 21st century, that article’s title wouldn’t be such a disgrace.</p>
<p>However, even on wikipedia, Engineering disciplines still do often get capitalized, as long as they can get it past the liberal arts majors who sit at home all day unemployed editing wikipedia:</p>
<p>Often, the grammar nazis won’t pick up on it because it just seems right for such important majors to be capitalized. Not capitalizing proper noun majors undoubtedly gives them cognitive dissonance.</p>
<p>As a matter of fact I am in a “proper noun major”, now please tell me why I should care whether or not my major is spelled Computer Engineering, Computer engineering, computer engineering, computer Engineering, or good old Comp. E. What difference does it make? They all convey the same point.</p>
<p>This is just some concept you made up. As such, there’s no definition of what is a proper-noun major is outside of your word. Since you have no authority in any respect, people aren’t going to listen to you.</p>
<p>I would like to personally dispute this theory and propose the Polyvowel Postulate of Interspersed Distribution in Analyzing the Empirical Value of Major Disciplines. This Postulate states thus:</p>
<p>Majors in which multiple vowels are distributed in an interspersing fashion within the word (or word group) that represents the major are superior to all other majors.</p>
<p>These include, for example:</p>
<p>Engineering
English
Italian
Chinese
Math(ematics)
Japanese
Spanish
Latin</p>
<p>So Whistleblower is essentially stating that engineering is by far superior to any other major in existence, using English and linguistics (two of the “liberal arts majors” he so disdains) to justify his claim. Lovely.</p>
<p>Here are the rules for academic subjects. There’s probably more flexibility with the names of majors:
Languages are capitalized.
General subjects remain lower case. More specific subjects are capitalized (and honestly, most majors would fit into this category).</p>
<p>I think it has a lot more to do with the evolution of the language: after a while, everyone will probably be speaking english rather than English. Capitalization is kind of pointless there.</p>
<p>You stated general majors remain lower case, while more specific are capitalized. If my BA is technically called History of Art, is this more specific? My guess is it would be, but if I’m wrong I am wondering if it’s still better to capitalize it on my resume. </p>
<p>I feel like it’s more likely the person reading it will think I made an error by not capitalizing it, so better to give them what they think they should see, rather than risk the individual thinking I didn’t bother to proof my resume.</p>
is by far superior to any other major in existence, using English and linguistics (two of the “liberal arts majors” he so disdains) to justify his claim. Lovely.</p>